Picking a walking stick up for an elderly stranger?

[MRSDoos]

Just want others opinions on this

I saw a elderly man drop his walking stick and I grabbed it for him, he seemed grateful and said “thank you”

I heard someone in the queue behind me say to their friend “I wouldn’t of done that, covid and all this flu that’s going around” and suddenly felt a bit bad

I’m not sure if she meant me passing anything onto him or him passing anything onto me but now I’m questioning if I should of touched it. He seemed quite frail so not sure if he would of managed himself getting it off the floor anyway

I know this isn’t a big deal but just wanted to know what you would of done

Of course you pick the stick up, I'd pick up by the shaft rather than the handle if I was being cautious, but still pick it up as pp have said.

I use a walking stick and drop it quite often - you try juggling a walking stick, handbag and purse while paying for shopping! I am dyspraxic and also have arthritis in my hands which doesn’t help.

Even though I am able to pick up my own stick, most of the time someone dashes up to do it for me and I am very grateful. Every little helps as they say! Please don’t stop being helpful to people, ignore small minded comments.

You absolutely did the right thing. It was nice of you to help him. I'm sorry that a mean-spirited person's unkindness has made you feel sad. Ignore their ignorant barbs. x

Of course you did the right thing. I use a stick because I have had back surgery and am always dropping the darn thing - I am very grateful when people pick it up for me.

Thank you everyone! Also to the person commenting that I’m boasting or something for picking up a stick lol this wasn’t the intention of my AIBU

thanks for all your comments and I no longer feel bad. I have anxiety disorder and panic about this sort of thing even though I shouldn’t care about the woman’s opinion

I am wondering what the tutting woman would have done - just left him stuck and unable to walk on?

Well quite 😂

Surely you’re not questioning whether you did the right thing?
I find it hard to believe anyone would comment? He was out shopping, presumably touching a hundred non sterile things.

What is wrong with people?! You did a good thing.

I remember having a conversation about sort of thing back in lock down times. I posed the question to my partner ' if , whilst out walking, you saw someone had collapsed /fallen would you go and help them?'
This was back in the times we couldn't meet anyone outside. I still would have gone and helped. Partner was so sure.

I suppose you have to make allowances for other people’s mental health conditions as well as your own anxiety disorder.

The lady making comment may have had an anxiety around germs or touching things. It wasn’t a particularly rational thing to say was it? I think you realise that.

That person's just a germaphobe with ongoing psychosis.

What a stupid comment. You should have sneezed at her

Oh good lord, that person commenting was a bloody selfish idiot.

I'm glad there are lots more people like you around, OP. I use a walking stick and if I drop it, I need help to get it back. I'm sure that man really appreciated your help, OP.

To think there are some who wouldn't help a mobility impaired person retrieve a walking aid is quite depressing.

It's not like you licked the walking stick and then stuck it back in his mouth. That woman was ridiculous.

My 77 year old mother fell in a shop, and a man walked over. She thought he was going to help her as she's had two knee replacements and was struggling to get up. No....he stepped over her and left.

@magicstar1 omg!! That’s crazy!!

I would have done the same as you without hesitation. Don't give it another thought, you were very kind to help

I did the same recently in a shop and would do so again.

They sound horrible. Any decent persons first instinct should be to help someone in that situation..

It's already been proven that Covid doesn't easily transmit through touch/surfaces so the comment was irrelevant

I'd have done the same thing OP, don't feel bad.

I would have picked it up and made sure he was ok.
As for germs - well hands can be washed!

I'm not elderly (early 30's!) but I am disabled and tremendously grateful if anyone picks up my stick if I drop
it since I struggle to pick it up. So I think you did great, can't imagine you'd pass him anything just handing him his stick!!

Oh she would have got the look from me!!! What an idiot

I wonder if that woman uses supermarket trolleys or baskets?

I would have told that person to F off, it’s good to be kind